The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-11-04

/: ure. loose their power of speech. This
was especially true Of the Heelstring.
err.
LES hear from Mister Archer sug.
gestcd tho chairman.
Archer had been in the Hcelstring
district but few months. and. not vet
being subject to road-tax. had been
working as substitute for neighbor.
This phase of life was something new
to him. and he scarcely knew what to
say. He respected law and order above
all other things. and he could not en-
dorse the proposition of Hawkins and
Thorn. But was it advisable to say so?
He knew he was treading on treacher-
Gus ground. He was careful in his
language. and endeavored to mildly
but plainly condemn any unlaw
procedure. He was easy in his man.
ncr. well trained in speech and inn
pressed the hHuseholders of Heolstring
as "a purity sharp feller." notwith-
standing that his argument was re-
ceivcd with many negative heat-shak-
ings.
Snow. gentlemen" said he in con-
c!usion. "thele is certainly legal way
in which to punish man for beating
his wife. A complaint should be filed
in some court of competent jurisdic-
ton. where he will be given fair trial
and punished according to law"
.'AccOrdin' to lawv' sneered Bill.
claw costs somethin' in this country.
There's fees fur the squire. and fees
for the constable. and fees fur witness
es. and we Taxpayers would have to
foot the bills. dom want any law in
mine. l got into lawsuit once over
twenty bushels of corn. and it cost me
jest twenty dollars to git out Besides.
he's guilty. and every body knows it."
'.Fellers. said Josh Meathers, Il Jest
want to git in one word. Exceptin'
Uncle Jim. I'm the oldest man on the
ground. Now. l propose comprom-
Use between Bills plan and Mr.. Arch
er's We needn't be in a hurry about
the thrashin'. Hits some somethin'
that'll wait. aintin favor O. goin' into
court Jestice comes too high there
far us fellcrs to afford it. Les app'int
a committee to 60 and see Jack and
tell i'm this here things got to stop,
or the neighbors will take i'm out and
tan his hide fur i'm. It'll be givin' i'm
a chanct."
There were number Of approving
mods. and Meathcrs moved the appoint
ment of the committee. Without wait
ing for second. Ganey put the ques-
ton. There were numerous but not
very enthusiastic ayes. and there were
a few subdued noes
1.-THE notions kerricd," said the
chairman. "An' appint on that COM
mittec Josh Meathers, an Abe Thorn,
an Sam Bowler; an will act with
'em an be thurman.
The meeting adjourned and the
crowd slowly dispersed. The commit
tee. however. Jagged behind for con-
which was finished with a
remark from the overseer.
81 guess. bcin' as was thurman of
the meetin' and of the committee,
might as well go and see Hardness my
self. I've got to see i'm to-morror
about not workin' the road. SO it'll
come handy to give i'm his orders
about the other matter"
The other members silently acqui-
esced, and each wendell his way home
ward.
Some one has said that every COM
munity has its little great man, or in
dividual of small capacity. but great
aspirations. who pushes himself for
ward on every occasion as the leading
citizen Of his neighborhood. Old Jim
Ganey was such man; and the alacrity
with which he stepped to the front in
all local affairs. from a camp-mccting
to barn-raising, would have been
amusing. had his character been thor
oughly understood. But then, the
people of Heclstring never troubled
themselves about deep insight into
human nature, or an analysis of char
actcrs.
When Gancy reached home that
evening, he lost no time in fully ap-
prising his wife of the Importance of
the mission before him. That good
soul listened patiently to all the cir
cumstances relating thereto. but when
the story was finished. she shook her
head and remarked with sigh:
BE keerful. Jeems! Be kcerful."
'.Bc kerfull!" exclaimed the old man
Indignantly. "Don't ye reckon l know
my own business?" And he relapscd
into grim silence for the remainder of
the evening.
About three miles from Ganey's
home. down on the narrow bottom of
Beaver Creek. stood the log cabin of
Jack Hardness The premises pre-
sented an appearance that was unin-
viting in the extreme. A few yards
from the cabin was pole shed. scam
tily covered with straw. which served
the purpose ola stable for Harkness's
only horse. His crib was rail pen.
There were no other Outbuildings.
The fifteen acres of bottom was inclsscd
by a rail fence sadly in need of repair.
The only crop in the field, beyond a
few truck patches. was about ten acres
of corn; which. although badly grown
up in weeds. would probably yield half
a crop. This. however. was due rather
to the natural productiveness of the
soil. than to the industry of the pro-
prietcr.
A single glance at the house would
have convinced an architect that, what